Southwest Golf Classic

The Southwest Golf Classic was a PGA Tour event played at Fairway Oaks Golf & Racquet Club in Abilene, Texas, from 1981 to 1988 (the facility was later renamed Fairway Oaks Country Club and is now a part of Abilene Country Club).

The event had been known as the LaJet Classic when it began in 1981 and again in 1982. In 1983, the event was known as the LaJet Coors Classic and in 1984 it was known as the LaJet Golf Classic. From 1985 to 1987 it was known as the Southwest Golf Classic. In 1988, the tournament event was hosted by Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, and was known as the Gatlin Brothers-Southwest Golf Classic.

In 1989, the event became a Senior PGA Tour event, and was renamed the Gatlin Brothers Southwest Senior Classic.

Winners

YearWinnerCountryScoreTo parMargin
of victory		Runner(s)-up
Gatlin Brothers-Southwest Golf Classic
1988Tom Purtzer United States269−19PlayoffUnited States Mark Brooks
Southwest Golf Classic
1987Steve Pate United States273−151 strokeUnited States Bob Eastwood
United States David Edwards
Canada Dan Halldorson
United States Mark O'Meara
1986Mark Calcavecchia United States275−133 strokesUnited States Tom Byrum
1985Hal Sutton United States273−15PlayoffUnited States Mike Reid
LaJet Golf Classic
1984Curtis Strange United States273−152 strokesUnited States Mark O'Meara
LaJet Coors Classic
1983Rex Caldwell United States282−61 strokeUnited States Lee Trevino
LaJet Classic
1982Wayne Levi United States271−176 strokesUnited States Thomas Gray
1981Tom Weiskopf United States278−102 strokesUnited States Gil Morgan

Tournament highlights

  • 1981: Tom Weiskopf wins the inaugural version of the tournament. He finishes two shots ahead of Gil Morgan.[1]
  • 1982: Wayne Levi shoots a first round 64 on his way to a wire to wire victory by six shots over Thomas Gray.[2] Raymond Floyd, who was engaged in a tight battle with Craig Stadler for that year's leading spot on the money list, left Abilene after shooting 146 for the first 36 holes thinking he would miss the cut. By the time Floyd learned he had not missed the cut, he had already returned to his home in Florida. Unable to make airline connections to meet his Saturday tee time, Floyd was forced to withdraw.[3]
  • 1986: Future 13-time winner and 1989 Open Champion Mark Calcavecchia notches his first PGA Tour title. He finishes three shots ahead of Tom Byrum.[4]
  • 1988: Tom Purtzer wins the last version of the tournament. He shoots a final round 64 before defeating Mark Brooks on the first hole of a sudden death playoff.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Weiskopf regains luck
  2. ↑ Victory lies in Levi genes
  3. ↑ Floyd leaves town; he should've stayed
  4. ↑ Former Gator golfer Mark Calcavecchia wins Southwest
  5. ↑ Purtzer wins Southwest title
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